logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
13m 38s

The Dumber Side of Smart People

Morgan Housel
About this episode

Mae West said, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.” That might be true for some things – health, happiness, golden retrievers, maybe.

But in so many cases the thing that helps you can be taken to a dangerous level. And since it’s a “good thing,” not an obvious threat, its danger creeps into your life unnoticed.

Take intelligence.

How could someone possibly be too intelligent? How do you get to a point where you realize you could have been more successful if you had been a little dumber?

Let me share three reasons why.

And if you're looking for another podcast to listen to, check out The Rundown by my friends at Public.com. It's a quick five-minute listen that gets you all caught up on the latest in the stock market, the economy, and in crypto. Hope you enjoy it. 

Up next
Oct 30
The Hardest Financial Skill
Plus: The returns on AI, bubbles, and making your younger self proud. This episode is brought to you by State Street Investment Management’s Sector ETFs. To learn more, visit StateStreet.com/SectorETFs. Before investing consider the funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges an ... Show More
26m 45s
Oct 16
Mark Twain on Relative Wealth
Plus, the obsession with minimalism, worrying in your 20s, and the barbell approach to investing. This episode is brought to you by State Street Investment Management’s Sector ETFs. To learn more, visit StateStreet.com/SectorETFs. Before investing consider the funds’ investment o ... Show More
21m 58s
Oct 9
A False Sense of How People View You
The disconnect between what you're trying to show and what other people see -- plus, demographics, influencers, and the role of luck. Want to help this show? Take this quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B2QLMW6This episode is brought to you by Davis Advisors. To learn m ... Show More
20m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
When Smart People Are Stupid
<p><span data-sheets-root="1">Ever met someone who thinks they're the smartest person in the room? Darren tells a timeless lesson about why we should be cautious of those who overestimate their own intelligence.<br /> <br /> Stop wasting time listening to people who don't even re ... Show More
2m 47s
May 2024
Are You a Recovering Intellectual?
If you've ever wondered why the smartest people in the room can do the dumbest things (and especially if you think you might be one of those people :-), this week's episode explores the double-edged sword of the intellect and how to wield it wisely in the world! 
9m 11s
Jun 2024
Why Trying Too Hard Can Backfire On You
<p>Thinking is a human superpower. On a daily basis, thinking and planning and effort bring us innumerable benefits. But like all aspects of human behavior, you can sometimes get too much of a good thing. This week, we talk with philosopher <a href="https://philosophy.ubc.ca/prof ... Show More
52m 17s
Oct 2025
How Smart People Become Stupid
Why do smart people fall for dumb ideas? In this episode, Ryan explains how ego and overconfidence can trip up even the smartest minds and how Stoicism can help you avoid the same trap.📖 Preorder the final book in Ryan Holiday's The Stoic Virtues Series: "Wisdom Takes Work": htt ... Show More
28m 32s
Jan 2023
Why Smart People Make Stupid Decisions (And How to Avoid This)
Stay open-minded to the possibility that there is a lot more information that you don’t know yet.  After all, the wisest person in a room listens more than the others because they know there’s still more knowledge to learn. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show ho ... Show More
7m 17s
Feb 2021
Too Good Too Be True
When something is too good to be true, it usually is. Does this also apply to your relationship? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat ... Show More
4m 51s
Jun 2022
Why You're Smarter Than You Think
<p>From the time we are schoolchildren, we are ranked and sorted based on how smart we are. But what if our assumptions about intelligence limit our potential? This week, psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman proposes a more expansive notion of what it means to be "smart."</p><p><i>If ... Show More
48m 53s
May 2025
Think Twice
We’ve all heard the saying: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. But isn’t that a terrible way to look at life? Because if you go into everything with negativity, you might miss the best thing that could ever happen.But, dear listener, the saying is a saying for a rea ... Show More
56m 51s
Dec 2021
How You Can Make Yourself Smarter & When Efficiency Actually Slows You Down
Ask just about anyone and they will tell you that antioxidants are really good for you. In fact, some people take antioxidant supplements probably assuming that if they are good for you - then taking even more is even better. Is it? We begin this episode with a look at antioxidan ... Show More
44m 2s